In October of the same year Roerich arrived in America for the first time and exhibited 400 paintings in New York. Later these works were to tour for one and a half years through 29 principal cities. In 1921 he founded the Master School of United Arts based on his ideas that “all arts should be united under one roof”. In 1923 the artist left for Europe en route to the East for his Central Asiatic Expeditions. On November 17th. 1923 the Roerich Museum was opened in New York. Cultural leaders, representatives of governments, artists and young people flocked to Roerich from all over the country. Groups were formed which later took on the name of Roerich societies, proclaiming his ideals and precepts for Peace, Beauty and Knowledge. People were drawn to him as a great humanitarian and spiritual leader.
Those who met him left spiritually enriched, looking forward to a new life of service for the Common Good of humanity and inspired by his panhumanitarian ideals.
Heading an artistic-scientific expedition for five years he explored the Heart of Asia - India, Tibet, Mongolia, Chinese-Turkestan, Altai, collecting data on Asiatic culture and philosophy and painting over 500 magnificent works of the Himalayas. The chief objective of the Roerich Expedition was to create a pictorial record ( in paintings by Roerich ) of the lands and people of Inner Asia. the second objective was to survey the possibilities for further archeological exploration and the third was to secure art treasures and ethnographical collections revealing the culture of asiatic peoples.
Several books by Roerich, Heart of Asia, Altai Himalaya, Shambhala and the important monograph, Himalaya are the main records of the expedition.
The Himalayan Research Institute was inaugurated by Roerich in Naggar, Kulu, in the Punjab, India after his return from the expedition, and dedicated to the study of the Himalayan mountain region. The institute was also intended to serve for many new expeditions of a broad character, covering both nature and the inhabitants of these regions. It had two departments, botanical and ethnological.

Nicholas Roerich was born in St Petersburg on October 9th. 1874 and across the screen of humanily life stepped a spiritual and artistic giant..
From early years indications were given of a tremendous talent being released into the world. At an early age he showed a desire to be involved in Art, whereas his father requested a path in law. Roerich took both courses and passed them successfully, thereupon moving into the world of Art.
A love and fascination for archaeology took him to areas where he could delve deeper into the ancient history of his land and thereby sow the seeds, lay the groundwork for this knowledge to be absorbed and integrated to manifest later in those early paintings of the Neolithic period. In the early 1900’s, Roerich was nominated Principal of the School for the Encouragement of the Arts in St Petersburg, home to 2000 students, introducing many reforms, believing that students should not only receive more practical knowledge and development of their abilities but must embrace the entire scope of all living, active parts of art.
At that period Roerich was also attracted to a unique art project created by Princess M.K.Tenisher at her estate, Talashkino, near Smolensk. he encouraged folk art, wood carving, mosaics and even drew personal sketches for furniture. For the Memorial Church in Talashkino he painted his famous frescoes; Queen of Heaven, The Throne of the Invisible God, and the image of Christ in mosaic giving his own interpretation of the Byzantine Tradition.
Later on roerichs’ great interest in the theatre brought about a series of stage settings for Prince Igor the opera, followed by Peer Gynt, Princess Maleine, Sister Beatrice and Tristan Isolde. In 1912 work was commenced on the famous stage setting for Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, working with Diagileff. Successful exhibitions of his paintings were held throughout Europe in this period. In 1920 Roerich moved to London for a short period where an exhibition of his paintings called Spells of Russia was held.